Kunchacko Boban breaks his ideal 'good guy' mould in Bheemante Vazhi, a simplistic yet hard-hitting comedy about a stubborn man hell bent on constructing a road through his congested neighborhood.
A womanizing playboy who is not averse to using Machiavellian methods to get his way, Boban also doesnt shy away from 'bold' (at least in Malayalam cinema standards) sequences to convey the multiple shades of his character.
Director Ashraf Hamza weaves the same magic he created with the smash hit 'Thamasha' in 2019, giving us a handful of eccentric, well-written characters with mannerisms and backstories we would find in our own neighbourhoods.
The realism and authenticity with which the characters behave is never compromised and yet writer-actor Chemban Vinod Jose delivers bellyfulls of laughter, especially in a ROFLMAO final sequence that is sure to leave you in splits.
Vincy Aloshious delivers her second impactful performance on the trot after her terrific effort in Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham. Naseer Sankranthy and Binu Pappu are terrific in their supporting roles, delivering some of the best situational comedy I have enjoyed in recent years.
As has become a hallmark of Ashraf Hamza movies, the women characters are exceptionally well-written and cast with Divya M Nair the standout as the vivacious neighbourhood councilor alongside Thamasha's heroine Chinnu Chandini.
But the true breakout star of the film is Jinu Joseph, who astounds as the bungling antagonist 'Kosthep', giving Jaffer Idukki (Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham) a run for his money for the Best Comedy performance of 2021. He delivers his career best performance, in an altogether different shade than the suave, executive-type characters we have seen him portray.
Bheemante Vazhi takes it lead actors into zones that don't fall into their comfort zones in terms of character archetypes and therein lies its success. There is something profound about the simplicity of it all that is (dare-I-say-it?) Pothen-esque!
Highly recommended!
